The pharmaceutical industry in USA has asked its trade department to continue to keep India on its priority watch list (PWL).

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in a submission requested US Trade Representative (USTR) to continue to keep India on the Priority Watch List in the 2017 Special 301 Report.

“…we urge USTR to provide an opportunity for a meaningful assessment of India’s IP regime through an Out-of-Cycle Review, so that the US government can evaluate progress on these important issues and dedicate the required bilateral attention necessary to translate India’s commitments into substantive and real policy change that addresses the IP and market access barriers confronted by US businesses in India,” PhRMA said in the Indian section of its submission.

Those countries are included in the watch list that are alleged violators of US patent laws.

The pharma sector claimed that the environment on the ground remains “challenging” in India.

The US pharma sector is concerned mainly with unpredictable IP environment, high tariffs and taxes on medicines, regulatory data protection failure, discriminatory and non-transparent market access policies and unpredictable environment for clinical research.

However, it supported the Indian government’s efforts to create a stronger business, innovation and healthcare environment through the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the new National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy and the forthcoming National Health Policy.

“These efforts can advance improved access to healthcare for Indian patients, while driving economic growth by enhancing India’s global competitiveness and improving ease of doing business. However, despite some positive signs, PhRMA’s members remain concerned about the challenging policy environment in India,” PhARMA said.

As per PhRMA, pharmaceutical innovators saw positive signs from the Indian government in 2016.

However, these signals have not yet been translated into real policy and practical change.